Home is where the art is: Sculptor uses rubbish to build tiny houses for the homeless

An artist has found an unusual way of giving back using his particular skill set – building tiny mobile homes out of rubbish for people living on the street.

Gregory Kloehn, 43, uses recycled and reclaimed materials that he finds on the street to construct small, shed-like homes on wheels, so homeless people can move about.

Each home has a sloped roof and is about the size of a sofa.

The tiny homes are made entirely from recycled and reclaimed materials (Picture: Brian J Reynolds/Gregory Kloehn)

Through his ‘Homeless Homes Project’, the Oakland resident has so far built 10 homes which, although unspectacular, are greatly appreciated by those who would otherwise be bedding down on the street.

Mr Koehn, a sculptor by profession, explained that there was no reason why he couldn’t put his considerable artistic ability to more worthy use.

‘Before, I was all about sculpture,’ he explained. ‘But I realised it just sits there.

‘And you’re peddling it to rich people. I kind of think if you’re putting so much effort into something it would be nice if it did something.’

Mr Kloehn hopes to teach homeless people how to build their own homes (Picture: Brian J Reynolds/Gregory Kloehn)

After gaining inspiration from shanties in his local neighbourhood, Mr Kloehn began building.

But he didn’t realise his potential until a homeless couple asked him for a tarpaulin cover – and he offered them something better: a tiny home, complete with a water tank, built-in kitchen and a trap for waste.

Although some of his homes have not fared well on the rough streets of Oakland – with one fire-bombed and another stolen – Mr Kloehn has said is not stopping any time soon and would like to teach the craft to others, so they can make their own homes.